Kasich honors local nurse for her courage under fire in Las Vegas

Miamisburg nurse Christina Hole, whose heroics helped save lives at the Las Vegas mass shooting, was honored by Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday during his final State of the State address.

Kasich gave Hole a Governor’s Courage Award, recognizing her role in helping save concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. On Oct. 1, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock fired more than 1,100 rounds from his hotel suite, killing 58 and injuring more than 500.

Hole put her training into action, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on some victims and pulled others to safety.

“It’s very important that we recognize citizens that make extraordinary contributions to our society, and Christina’s life saving actions are a pinnacle example of that,” said state Rep. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg. “Gov. Kasich and I understand that many of the problems our state faces will not be solved by government, but rather by citizens like Christina Hole.”

Authorities say Paddock used bump stock devices to convert his semi-automatic weapons to fire like fully automatic guns. Two bills to ban bump stock devices were introduced in the Ohio Legislature in October following the Las Vegas massacre. Neither bill has received a hearing.

Among the honorees last year was Dayton RTA bus driver Damone Hudson, who pulled over his bus to talk a suicidal woman off the ledge of a bridge. A security camera on the bus caught Hudson’s act of compassion and it went viral. (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK(8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org)